Indian Jack Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Indian Jack Lake Wildlife Management Area is 320 acres of state land managed by the Minnesota DNR in Crow Wing County, near Crosby, inside Deer Permit Area 604. The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for it. Hunters registered 3,509 deer in DPA 604 in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's wildlife management area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR Deer Harvest Reports, 2021 to 2025.
State wildlife management areasState forest and other DNR landOther federal landCounty, city and regional landIndian Jack Lake WMACounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 320 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Crow Wing County |
| Deer Permit Area | DPA 604 |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game |
| Nearest town (DNR) | Crosby |
| DNR area office | Brainerd |
| Nearest towns | Cuyuna (3 mi), Crosby (3 mi) and Trommald (4 mi) |
What is Indian Jack Lake WMA like?
This wildlife management area was formed in 2018 to protect the lakeshore habitat around Indian Jack Lake. The habitat on this wildlife management area is a mixture of oak, birch, aspen, and pine. This wildlife management area includes 12,900 feet of intact, undeveloped shoreline around 130-acre Indian Jack Lake (DOW #18019000) and ~4,200 feet of undeveloped shoreline on the Mississippi River.
In the DNR's words, from its wildlife management area data.
What can you hunt on Indian Jack Lake WMA?
The DNR's WMA data lists deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and other forest upland birds, bear and small game for Indian Jack Lake WMA. Each follows the statewide season and, for deer, the bag limit of the permit area.
What are the rules on Indian Jack Lake WMA?
Open to hunting and trapping in the regular seasons under the DNR's statewide WMA rules.
How many deer are taken around Indian Jack Lake WMA?
Indian Jack Lake WMA lies in Deer Permit Area 604. The DNR registered 3,509 deer in DPA 604 in 2025, against 3,167 in 2024.
| DPA | Indian Jack Lake WMA acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPA 604 | 320 | 3,509 | 3,167 | 3,074 |
Harvest for the whole deer permit area, not the WMA alone: Minnesota DNR Deer Harvest Reports (2021 to 2025, 2025 report).
How do you get to Indian Jack Lake WMA?
From the junction of State Highway 210 and Highway 6 in Crosby, go north 4.75 miles on State Highway 6 then 1/2 mile east on County Road 11.
There are multiple parking areas off of Crow Wing County Highway 11. Including one with a carry-in water access to Indian Jack Lake. The wildlife management area can also be accessed off of State Highway 6 on the west side of the wildlife management area.
Nearest towns: Cuyuna (3 miles), Crosby (3 miles), Trommald (4 miles) and Ironton (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: MN 6 and MN 210.
What other public land is near Indian Jack Lake WMA?
DNR WMAs within 10 miles:
- Lower Dean WMA: 243 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Upper Dean WMA: 40 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Mission Lake WMA: 147 acres, 6.7 miles away
- Cedar Lake WMA: 97 acres, 7.7 miles away
- Kim Hennings WMA: 275 acres, 9.3 miles away
- Loerch WMA: 207 acres, 9.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Indian Jack Lake WMA
Counting Indian Jack Lake WMA itself, 1,781 of the 24,732 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State forest and other DNR land | 1,460 |
| State wildlife management areas | 320 |
| Other federal land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Indian Jack Lake WMA?
In Crow Wing County, near Crosby. The DNR's directions: From the junction of State Highway 210 and Highway 6 in Crosby, go north 4.75 miles on State Highway 6 then 1/2 mile east on County Road 11.
Which deer permit area is Indian Jack Lake WMA in?
Deer Permit Area 604. Its bag limit and firearms dates apply.
How much public land is around Indian Jack Lake WMA?
1,781 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Indian Jack Lake WMA included, by PAD-US 4.1. 6 other WMAs are within 10 miles, the closest Lower Dean WMA (3.1 miles).
Get a Minnesota hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Minnesota included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Indian Jack Lake WMA; Minnesota DNR Wildlife Management Area boundaries, publicly accessible.
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
- Deer harvest: Minnesota DNR Deer Harvest Reports (2021 to 2025, 2025 report).
FilledTag is not part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.